AFRICA: The UN ended its DR Congo military offensive support against a rebel group after two generals linked to human rights violations were picked to lead the operation.

AMERICAS: Cuban President Castro held talks with Russian DM Shoigu, with both sides expressing readiness to further strengthen military-technical cooperation.

ASIA: Indian chief anti-graft leader Arvind Kejriwal was sworn in after running on a platform of corruption reform, and winning elections by a landslide.

EUROPE: Greece’s deepening ties with Russia during its economic crisis drew concerns the country may try to lure it under its political umbrella.

MIDDLE EAST: The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that more than 60 percent of Yemen’s population — nearly 16 million — desperately need food, clean water and sanitation.

TECHNOLOGY: A new US intelligence unit, the Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center (CTIIC), was created to “coordinate analysis of cyber threats.”

TOP STORY

Ukraine: Peace deal in grave danger as fighting rapidly escalates.

Mikheil Saakashvili, the former fiercely pro-Western leader of Georgia, was appointed to aide Ukrainian President Poroshenko in helping the war-torn country on its path to reform, officials said.

The military said there was no let-up in a pro-Russian rebel offensive ahead of a planned ceasefire, reporting 120 separate attacks in the past 24 hours.

Ferocious fighting raged on, threatening a ceasefire deal as Kiev and the US accused Russia of fuelling a rebel onslaught to grab territory before the truce started.

President Poroshenko warned that continuing bombardments that killed dozens had plunged a peace plan reached in Minsk after marathon talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin into “big danger” before it even got off the ground.

Colombia: Authorities detained 16 Pakistanis who illegally entered the country and were trying to reach the United States with the assistance of a human smuggler. (AFP)

Cuba: President Castro held talks with Russian DM Shoigu, with both sides expressing readiness to further strengthen military-technical cooperation. (XIN)

Panama: Citizens angry over Nicaragua’s plan to build a “bigger and better” canal, took to the streets to protest the Chinese-funded USD50 billion project. (Miami)

ASIA

China: More than 70 kilograms of drugs were seized and 20 suspects arrested after an inter-provincial drug ring was busted, police in central Hunan Province said. (XIN)

India: Chief anti-graft leader Arvind Kejriwal was sworn in after running on a platform of corruption reform, and winning elections by a landslide. (AFP)

Indonesia: UNSG Ban Ki-moon appealed to the country not to execute prisoners on death row for drug crimes, including citizens of Australia, Brazil, France, Ghana, Indonesia, Nigeria and the Philippines. (Reuters)

Myanmar: The army launched fresh air strikes following the government’s rare admission that dozens of its soldiers died in a dramatic resurgence of conflict. (AFP)

Pakistan: Chinese FM Wang Yi met with Asif Ali Zardari, former Pakistani president and co-chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). (XIN)

EUROPE

Region: US Treasury Secretary Lew urged all sides in Greece debt talks to focus on solving the crisis that risks pushing the eurozone country into default. (AFP)

Greece: The country’s deepening ties with Russia during its economic crisis drew concerns the country may try to lure it under its political umbrella. (WSJ)

Turkey: Police used water cannons to disperse scores of protesters in Izmir who were boycotting schools over the growing influence of religion in the classroom. (Guardian)

MIDDLE EAST

Bahrain: Police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters who took to the streets on the fourth anniversary of a pro-democracy uprising. (AFP)

Iran: Supreme Leader Khamenei responded to overtures from President Obama seeking better relations by sending secret communications of his own to the White House. (WSJ)

Jordan: The US readied plans to resupply the country with munitions, possibly including precision-guided arms, as it expands its campaign against IS. (Reuters)

Yemen: The UAE suspended operations at its embassy and evacuated staff due to security concerns as the country’s political crisis became more volatile. (AFP)

Yemen: The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that more than 60 percent of the population — nearly 16 million — desperately need food, clean water and sanitation. (XIN)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Cyber Warfare: A new US intelligence unit, the Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center (CTIIC), was created to “coordinate analysis of cyber threats.” (DOD)